The Quest for Security
An Enneagram-based analysis of why Singapore does what she does and insights to the strengths and challenges she might have
When I first heard from my former colleagues that Singapore was a Type 6 country, I was surprised. Can you actually profile a country as a particular Enneagram type? I had only just begun learning about the Enneagram and besides discovering it to be a highly insightful tool for understanding human behaviour and motivations, I am further exposed to the idea that it can also be used to understand how countries “behave”.
Apparently, various Enneagram teachers have proposed that some countries have such a significant way of behaving that it is possible to profile them into the different Enneagram types (find out more here and here). And from then on, it is thus possible to apply the framework onto the country and use it to understand why certain policies have been made, governance-wise, and why the people behave as they do, culture-wise.
So as I was doing my research on the hypothesis that Singapore is a Six, I came across the following text,
“In society, we find the theme of the Six archetype expressed in power dynamics, ‘us against them’ attitudes, authoritarianism, and all forms of hierarchy. Naranjo connects fear [emphasis added] with authority and power because it stems from an experience in childhood of being small in the presence of our parents, who, in the eyes of a child, seem like giants. The father figure is the archetypal symbol — if not the real executor — of authority in most homes, and so the father-child relationship serves as a template for our experience of power relationships (relations between a superior and an inferior) from then onward.”
(Chestnut, 2013, p.184–185)
The excerpt above surprised me by how well it described Singapore and helped to give credence to the hypothesis. Authoritarianism and hierarchy are prominent features in her state agencies (or in any organisation that is closely linked to her). And indeed, she had a father who was a giant in his own right. A man who through sheer force of will shaped and determined her future since her birth. Through that relationship, Singapore has learnt about how fear and power interrelate — Fear can be used to shape power or is a form of power in itself and can be used to drive certain actions.
This was probably how the Type 6 “flavour” to this country was developed. Time and again, we are reminded that we need to pursue the stability that was hard-wrought for fear of a repeat of the past. This was a lesson expounded upon emphatically time and again by the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew (who was a Type 8 “Challenger”) and it still is a lesson that many Singaporean leaders recall in order to drive certain behaviours.
We can see an example of this worldview in the following screenshot taken from Speaker of Parliament, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin’s LinkedIn page, in commemoration of Singapore’s Total Defence Day,
“Eternal vigilance” speaks of never letting down our guard, and always scanning the horizon for any potential threats. These happen to be key Type 6 traits. But more than just being wary and guarded, Sixes are also dutiful to those in their circle of trust, and are more keenly aware of the need to rely on each other, a community, if we were to keep each other safe. That is why there is a constant intentional reminder that “we” need to do this “together”.
However, times are changing. Fear might have worked in the past for the Pioneer Generation but may no longer work for a Singapore that is maturing in a whole different reality altogether. (Even our sense of community and kinship with each other in Singapore has also evolved.) Which is probably why Mr Lee said the following in an interview,
“I can see the change in my grandchildren’s generation. It’s a change in values and attitudes of a different generation who feels that, you know, I’m not going to spend my life in public service like my father or my uncle. I see no reason for that. The place is running, let somebody else do it.”
(Han et al., 2011, p. 69)
And to give this depiction a double dose of realism (a classic Type 8 trait), he continued,
“Who is that somebody else? Have we got such a plethora of talent, capable, honest, dedicated? We haven’t.”
Hard truths indeed.
The aim of this article is to use the Enneagram framework to understand the impact of having high Type 6 traits over our public policies and also over our social norms; to acknowledge where our strengths are and also where we might need to pay more attention to, if we want to be more “whole” and self-aware as a nation.
[N.B. In this article, when I refer to Singapore, I could be referring to the government or the people, depending on the context of the paragraph. While I agree that the population is filled with people of all Enneagram types, not just Sixes, my discussion revolves around the high Type 6 “feel” of the culture in general, not the Enneagram types of the people per se. (Interestingly, if you have a low Type 6 trait in your Enneagram report, you would probably find Singapore “stifling”, “rigid” or “traditional”.)]
I have explained the background context for believing Singapore to be an Enneagram Six. Let us now look at her strengths and challenges faced.
The Gift of Planning
Sixes are known to be gifted at trouble-shooting, problem-solving and strategic-thinking. They are able to do this due to their analytical mind. A mind that has been driven day in day out by an undercurrent of anxiety. A mind that frequently scans the horizon for anything that could upset the stability and status quo that they so dearly cherish. This has unwittingly made them highly adept at contingency-planning.
This is evident from the way Singapore has managed the Covid-19 pandemic. Sure, there were gaps in the strategies in the early days, but those were quickly plugged in the most strategic way possible so as to prevent worse scenarios from happening. (Notice I used the word “strategic” and not “efficient”. The latter suggests a stop gap measure created at a time of crisis. The former alludes to the ability to have foresight about potential issues that are not even readily apparent to the average person, but the Six has predicted plenty.)
Besides Covid-19, Singapore’s ability to think of various contingency plans is also evident in policies that range from the Central Provident Fund contribution to the various sources she gets her groceries from. From medical, housing and retirement fund planning, to ensuring that land-scarce-Singapore does not starve during a crisis, the well-oiled machinery of Singapore has gotten it down to pat. It is the government’s aim to make sure that things are kept as stable as possible.
(Thus, we cannot really blame the younger generation of Singaporeans for being an “entitled” bunch. Their view of the world has lost its grittiness because their “father” is a protective and careful Six, not a confrontational, straight-shooting Eight, which the older generation had.)
But as with all gifts and abilities, too much of a good thing can be bad too. All the careful planning and projection have led to certain undesirable side-effects.
Anxiety-Driven Peace & Safety
If you have ever been to a park in Singapore, it is an experience like no other. At a place where you expect to relax, signs asking you to be wary of your surroundings are prominently displayed. Even at rest, the Six’s mind never really allows it to be at ease.
And we see this pattern of never really being at ease repeated over and over again all over the island — the campaign flyer at the HDB lift lobby noticeboard about illegal loanshark activities in the neighbourhood (right next to a flyer about a community games day); the advertisements at bus stops warning about love scams on the Internet with ominous sounding tag-lines (“If ‘he’ asks for money, it’s not real love"); and of course, the thousands of closed-circuit cameras all around the island. I find the last one a very apt symbol for the Six. It is almost like Singapore is saying to its inhabitants, “Be suspicious, be wary and better to be overly careful than sorry. I’m watching (over) you.” Depending on how high your Type 6 traits are, you would either be thankful for this level of monitoring or be disgruntled with it.
Finely Cleaned City
It is exactly due to this style of fear-driven governance that Singaporeans did not have the chance to exercise our Type 1 traits of personally discerning right from wrong as a society. This has in particular crippled our civic-mindedness.
Case in point, just look at the appalling state of our public spaces after events. It even made it to the news in 2015. Turns out that without the fear of being fined looming over us (“Aiyah, so many of us, cannot catch us one lah…”), we are less inclined to do what is good and right for the common society. (Juxtapose this with Japan’s awareness of civic duty and Type 1 culture.)
Is it possible to change this? Well, the very public calling out of Singapore being a “cleaned" city (rather than a “clean" one) by various news outlets has since made its impact on the population. Slowly, a nation has been made aware of where it is sorely lacking and we see changes afoot. It seems that there have been some improvements in the state of post-event cleanliness since then.
But there is more to having positive Type 1 traits than keeping public spaces clean. It is also about returning our trays after we are done eating; caring for our elderly when they are feeble and no longer able to contribute in a way deemed “useful” to us; and moving inside on trains so that others can board. And all of these done without the need for reminders via public campaigns.
Would Singapore ever be able to increase her Type 1 trait of civic-mindedness? Or will we always be reliant on the fear of a fine to keep us in line? Unfortunately, I suspect it would be the latter. We are a nation of immigrants, be it in the past, present, or even in the future. The challenge with having a plethora of cultures in our midst is that civic-mindedness differ in its interpretation culture to culture. In one country, it would be perfectly acceptable to talk loudly on the mobile phone in a train, while in others, it is a complete affront to human decency. Who is right? Who is wrong? This is where Singapore has had to constantly gauge the sentiments on the ground and offer a guideline that serves as the template for civil behaviour unique to this island. Not an easy feat indeed. I suspect the rule of thumb has been to promote behaviours that would help create the most stable Singapore in the long run. Sixes strive for stability.
Hopefully, with the regular reminders, public education and the Singapore Together conversations, we would slowly help make Singapore a country whose inhabitants could be counted on doing the right thing, with or without a fine.
The Practical Value of Being Nice
The wary and guarded side of Singapore has also unwittingly discouraged the development of the population’s Type 2 traits, namely, going the extra mile to do something nice for others and being optimistic about the intentions and potential in others. Yes, we do read in the news about kind, gracious deeds done for strangers. There were many that made it to the mainstream news during the peak of the Covid-19 crisis (here, here and here). But sometimes, one can’t help but feel that these events do not represent the local culture. In fact, Singapore’s need to create a committee called the “Singapore Kindness Movement” proves the point that Singaporeans really are not the most gracious bunch to begin with. (Just ask any British driver their opinion of their Singaporean counterparts on the roads.)
Whenever I encourage clients with low Type 2 traits to work on increasing the healthy traits of this type, I am usually met with dumbfounded looks, followed by a question along the lines of, “Why? Isn’t it enough that I am nice to my own family and friends? Why must I bother with people who are not in my circle?” I have seen this mentality played out in the general Singaporean culture too (hence the need for the Singapore Kindness Movement).
So why must we be nice and kind even to strangers? It is because of the practical value that these warm behaviours bring. I am intentionally raising the point on practicality because Sixes are typically vested in the logical and pragmatic. “Would being nice to a random stranger help put food on the table? Of course not!” Sixes would argue with me.
“Well, would you rather an entire Singapore filled with people who just minded their own business, lacking in warmth and kindness to strangers?” I probe.
“I could live with that. Look how far Singapore has come just solely relying on our Type 6 traits!”
I give up.
And then I take a deep breath and search for a more compelling reason to convince Sixes to work on their Type 2 traits. As it is, Sixes dislike change, and would only do so if it would bring more security to their lives. After pondering over the matter for many days, I think I have found a compelling reason for this change. (Operative word: think)
Allow me to introduce real-life examples of the very tangible impact of what happens when we do not work on our Type 2 traits.
If you have lived in Singapore long enough, you would know that the government invests heavily in public campaigns, and some of the more prominent ones happen to be recruitment drives for the teaching and nursing professions.
The recruitment campaign for teachers had gone on for quite some time in the past, and in recent years, was followed by the one for nurses. These two professions require a tremendous amount of self-sacrifice and the ability to go the extra mile to care for others, regardless of the challenges that come with the job. In fact, those who are attracted to these professions would see that the struggles in caring for the vulnerable are worth it as long as the effort has been appreciated. This is a key Type 2 trait — being motivated by needs and appreciation, rather than by compensation. That is why Twos are generally more nurturing in their nature and would gravitate towards work that involves helping and serving others.
Is it any surprise then, that with such low Type 2 traits inherent in our society that we have had to run these campaigns year after year to recruit individuals into these professions? The Six’s strategy to turn the tide on this dearth of teachers and nurses is to either provide better remuneration or to bring in more foreigners to care for the vulnerable in our society. (And oh, to run campaigns after campaigns.)
The situation does not seem to be improving, at least not for the nursing profession. According to researcher Ms Chua Gek Phin, from the National Cancer Centre Singapore,
“The underlying causes for the nursing shortages are the declining number of enrollments in nursing schools due to low status of the profession (emphasis added), remuneration, rotating shifts, limited career mobility, as well as competing career opportunities for women and attrition. Nursing leaders in Singapore attempted to resolve this acute workforce shortage through the employment of foreign nurses in the mid-1980s. Initially, the supply was from traditional sources nearby, namely Malaysia and Philippines… By the 1990s, workforce recruitment expanded to beyond traditional source to include nurses from countries such as People Republic of China, India, and Myanmar. Even with the recruitment of foreign nurses, the shortage of nursing workforce persists (emphasis added). The supply of foreign nurses is also at threat as the current nursing shortage is global.”
If we cannot count on more Singaporeans to take on this role, then how are we truly creating a more secure future for ourselves? I sure hope we have made enough headway in the robot nurse-field to aid the situation if the tide does not turn on this trend.
I truly believe that if we could access our nurturing side more frequently, Singapore would stand to benefit not just emotionally, but also economically. In the long run, perhaps we could change the perception of the “low status” of certain professions and see them as meaningful and fulfilling careers instead. Do yourself (and Singapore) a favour, check in with the Type 2 in you. I believe that by starting with small random acts of kindness towards others, and doing them consistently and intentionally, we might just be able to transform the future of this nation in a big way.
Have you ever noticed how the phrases “kiasu” and “kiasee” (Hokkien dialect: afraid to lose, afraid to die, respectively) are so synonymous with the Singaporean culture? Does this not speak of how ingrained Fear is in our society?
Singapore’s peace, stability and prosperity did not come easy. They are products of years of careful planning by dedicated individuals who are proud to make this nation home. Who knows the sacrifices that they have made to make this nation the jewel that it is today? And, alas, who knows also how much fear we have allowed to seep into our identity?
Is it ever possible to replace kiasu and kiasee with “hor say” and “hor sim” instead? The former to mean “done well” and the latter, “good hearted”. Could we create a culture that reflects being able to do things well while still having a heart for the Other?
The recent reveal of the Green Plan 2030 gives me hope that yes we could. With more parks within walking distances, car-free spaces, pedestrian and cyclists-friendly roads, there seems to be an intentional effort to create more avenues for people to unwind and connect with each other while being kind to the environment. The Green Plan reflects a leadership that is not just interested in Singapore surviving economically, but also socially, sustainably. It is a representation of a young nation that is growing in her self-awareness and wanting to be better than who she was in the past. May wisdom, faith and courage guide her every step. Majulah, Singapura!
References:
Chestnut, B. (2013). The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge. She Writes Press, California.
Chua, G. P. (2020). Challenges confronting the practice of nursing in Singapore. Asia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing, 2020 Jul-Sep, 7(3): 259–265. doi: 10.4103/apjon.apjon_13_20
Han, F. K., Zuraidah Ibrahim, Chua, M. H., Lim, L., Low, I., Lin, R. & Chan, R. (2011). Lee Kuan Yew: Hard truths to keep Singapore going. Singapore Press Holdings, Singapore.
